Uncle Kory Foundation Seed Grant Program

The Uncle Kory Foundation Seed Grant Program supports innovative, early-stage research directly related to brain cancer. The program is designed to help investigators generate preliminary data, initiate new research efforts, and advance promising research projects toward future external funding. The Uncle Kory Foundation is the funding organization, and the Seed Grant Program is focused specifically on research that can contribute to progress in the brain cancer field. Eligible projects must be directly related to brain cancer, and award funds must be used solely for the research project described in the approved application. Seed Grant awards provide up to $50,000 for an initial one-year project period. Investigators who receive an initial award may apply for a second year of funding of up to $50,000. Second-year support is not automatic and is contingent upon satisfactory progress, submission of a renewal application, and the availability of funding. The Foundation does not permit administrative, institutional overhead, or indirect costs to be charged to Seed Grant awards. The source does not state a required cost share or matching contribution. It also does not state the total amount available across the Seed Grant Program or the number of awards expected to be made. Applications must be led by a Principal Investigator who holds an independent research or faculty appointment, or an equivalent appointment at the investigator's institution, and who is authorized by that institution to serve as a Principal Investigator on externally funded research grants. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, clinical fellows, and other trainees may participate as co-investigators or key personnel, but they cannot replace the requirement for an eligible Principal Investigator to lead the application. Eligible academic institutions may apply from anywhere in the world. Industry applicants, biotechnology companies, and other private organizations are expressly ineligible. The application is submitted through an online application process. The application opens August 1, 2026, and the application deadline is September 1, 2026. Materials identified by the Foundation include the Online Application, a Statement of Understanding, and an Other Support Form. The source also directs prospective applicants to the Seed Grant Frequently Asked Questions for eligibility requirements, application guidelines, and commonly asked questions. No separate Letter of Intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other pre-application gating requirement is stated in the provided material. The Medical Advisory Board reviews applications and makes funding recommendations. Medical Advisory Board review and funding decisions are expected approximately November 1, 2026. Those funding recommendations remain subject to final approval by the Uncle Kory Foundation Board of Directors. Funding is expected to become available by January 15, 2027. The source does not provide separately enumerated scoring criteria, but the stated program purpose establishes that proposed work must concern brain cancer and that the program is intended to support innovative early-stage research, preliminary-data generation, new research initiatives, and promising projects that may advance toward future external funding. Awardees have continuing reporting and acknowledgment obligations. A six-month progress report is required, followed by a final scientific report and financial report one year after the funding date. Publications resulting from supported research must acknowledge the Uncle Kory Foundation as a funding source. The Foundation will publish the award recipient's name, institution, project title, and a brief lay summary of the funded research on its website. The provided information does not state that the competition recurs annually or on another regular schedule, so no recurring application cycle is inferred. The Uncle Kory Foundation lists a general contact email of Hello@UncleKory.org and telephone number (310) 295-4565, with an address at 2121 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 4335, El Segundo, CA 90245. The supplied material also lists renee@unclekory.org and (310) 709-4737 in the Foundation contact information, but does not identify a named Seed Grant program officer. For the current round, applications opened August 1, 2026 and close September 1, 2026; review and funding decisions are expected approximately November 1, 2026; and funding is expected to be available by January 15, 2027.

Ensure the proposed research is directly related to brain cancer and aligned with the program's purpose of supporting innovative early-stage research, preliminary data generation, new research initiatives, and advancement toward future external funding. Confirm PI eligibility before submission. Do not budget administrative, institutional overhead, or indirect costs, and use award funds solely for the approved research project.